Serious Pandemonium (I apologise!) 
at Edinburgh zoo at the moment. Loads of people zipping about rushing to see the Pandas with the gift shop bursting at the seams with Panda toys, jigsaws, tee-shirts…the list is endless.
People have always said there is something pretty special about Pandas and going to see them is a spiritual experience. That coupled with the fact there are only 2 or three pairs in Europe has seen Edinburgh zoo flourish. They expected an increase of up to 20% but actually that number has been closer to 60%.
It sounds selfish but It did feel a little crowded for me..but then the more money the zoo makes the more conservation work they can do. Plus it takes over a million pounds a year just to feed the Pandas!!
They are totally worth it!!
Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! I just realised that the hotel wifi is too slow to upload photo’s so you will just have to wait till Monday! 
I was excited to show you some awesome pics of the Pandas and even a video!!
(Also some other awesome animals too!!)
Did I find the ‘Panda experience a spiritual one’? Hmm.. I could see how it could be because they are just such chilled and relaxing animals but because they are so popular they need to do Panda tours where you are are sort of herded around with about 40 other people in the space of 20 minutes. There is a tour guide talking quite loudly and trying to be funny talking about ‘Panda super sperm’ !?
I would rather just chill next to the Pandas for a wee while like you can do with the other animals. All they pretty much do is eat and sleep but still they have a sort of magical quality. Maybe once the panda-mania has worn off a wee bit …in 9 years just before we have to send them back to China.. I will get the opportunity to do that! I did have a little while alone with them while the rest of the tour were being moved on to see their outdoor enclosure and it did feel pretty special…..
Going to the zoo and especially seeing Wee Michael (boy we look after sometimes) being so excited made me really happy; he got to ride on a safari bus and we saw loads of amazing animals. I always think being around animals is good for the soul and Edinburgh zoo, as it is a conservation one places more importance over the animals welfare than it does to the guests.. which I love!
Pics and hopefully vid to come on Monday!! :/
xxLisa
I saw the Pandas recently too! Luckily we went really early so there was very few people about – by the time our tour had finished the queue was getting quite big and when we returned from looking at the Monkeys as well they were queueing all the way up the hill! We were glad I made us go so early. Although the penguins were the highlight for me, as always. http://faykesby.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/i-am-panda/
Fantastic!! Good idea on booking early!! We had the 3 o’clock slot so we were surrounded by girl guide groups and everything!! Oh well!
One of my favourites are the penguins too but thier enclosure is being done up so The Emperor ones are away. They still have some Gentoo and rock hoppers though.. but I think they look pissed off because they are in enclosures that are not as fancy as they are used to!
aww… I Love your pic of the Panda!! Mine look basically the same. Surrounded by Bamboo eating.. though your pic looks like they are posing a bit!!
Thanks for that!! xxLisa
Yeah, typical that me, who has an unhealthy obsession with penguins, visit the zoo when half of them are away! The Gentoos were being cleaned out when we saw them so they were being really funny and following the keepers around. Plus it’s malting season so a lot of them are grumpy at the moment. The babies were cute though. We were very lucky with our timing – the whole day was easy and not too full because we were constantly just ahead of the crowds. http://faykesby.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/penguins/
Great pic! I managed to capture some nice pics. Most of them have shed all their crazy fur all except one penguin! He looked SO grumpy and unkempt! I did feel sorry for him!!
The other times I have been there there has always been a wee penguin parade (If the penguins want to do one of course) I kinna missed that.. Will deffo go back next year when their new enclosure is built. I wonder if they are getting a new enclosure because they were throwing poo at people waiting in line to see the pandas because apparently they were jealous!! hahahaha
Glad you had a chilled day at the zoo. Thanks for sharing your pic! xxLisa
Well what happened is the pool sprung a leak and they figured instead of fix just that they may as well do up the whole thing. I donated to it! It felt good. I love penguins, when I was in high school I won a competition to go feed some at a local bird garden and the keeper let me hold one cos it took a liking to me. I’ve been nuts about them ever since. My gran sent me a toy penguin today to cheer me up cos I’ve been ill. What is it about animals that make people so happy? x
Sounds like youre having a good time. Cant wait to see your piccies
Gah!! I wish I could upload them now but I waited about 15 mins for a pic and it didn’t upload.. and I want to put a wee vid on.. It’s funny you hear the tour guide hurrying us up!! haha! ..
The Pandas are so cute!! I love their brown tummies ..they look so fuzzy.. I wanted to go snuggle with them.. but apparently they would tear me to shreds!!
Good evolution.. look so cute so everyone wants to cuddle you so you can kill them! Like the Venus fly trap of cuddles!!
I see you couldn’t resist to pandering to you addiction to puns. Look forward to seeing the video.
Ach!! I know.. I am a total Pundit!
xxLisa
PS -I realise that doesn’t even make sense!!
The wee vid is up now Keith! Also for your viewing pleasure Baboons talking with a Glaswegian accent!
xxLisa
Glad you are having a great time! It sounds magical to me
But then to me, being around animals always is.
Have a great rest of your trip!
Rebecca
Yes.. I could spend all day around animals.
xx
Thank you Rebecca!
Glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to the photos/video!
xx
They are posted now.. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I’ve just stumbled across your blog…I haven’t read much yet, but I just had to comment that I’m a little freaked out that we are both on the same day in our blogging journey (I just posted day 53, a day after you posted day 52). I think that’s cool
Mine is about challenging myself to recover from borderline personality disorder within 90 days.
Oh wow!! Glad you found me!! I really look forward to reading your blog!!
I was going to ask you questions about BPD and how you feel you can recover from that.. but I should wait till I read your blog!
Wishing you the best of luck!! Hope we keep in touch!
xxLisa
It’s great you took the wee one, he will always remember the day at the zoo when he had so much fun. Just remember, “To the world you are but one person, but to one person, you are the world.” You never know when an act of kindness will have a life-long affect on someone.
Wow…that made me cry a little and is very true!!
It’s going on my ‘wall of inspiration’!!
Thank you! xx